Russian Propaganda: How Moscow Uses Disinformation in Africa

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... All it takes to verify the picture is a simple reverse image search.

The account from which the image was posted is known for regularly sharing pro-Russian content. Its owner, Vladimir Poutine (sic), features a profile picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, according to some profile information, such as a phone number, the dubious account seems to operate from the East African nation of Burundi.

Over 180,000 people follow the account, which presents itself as a news platform. ...

yeah, Pres Putin looks to be interested in Africa.

And now, Mr Musk seems to be helping Pres Putin's efforts in Africa by reducing the presence of the United States in Africa.

Why?

And then there is China ...

China's top diplomat heads to Africa as West's attention dwindles
www.reuters.com

... China's top diplomat began his annual New Year tour of Africa on Sunday, maintaining a 35-year-long tradition, to quietly advance Beijing's already sizeable influence across the resource-rich continent as Europe's presence wanes and America's wavers. ...

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... "China firmly believes that Africa has never been a forgotten continent, but rather a source of vitality and a land full of development potential," Guo Jiakun, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, told a regular news conference on Monday. ...

Influence.

Plain and simple.

Both China and Russia seem to understand the strategic benefits of influence.

Meanwhile, Pres Trump seems to be totally focused upon the transactional benefits (a.k.a., imo, the FoxNews headline) of p**sing off our long-tern allies.

@#7

I dunno.

But ...

Why strong regional value chains will be vital to the next chapter of China and Africa's economic relationship (June 2024)
www.cnbcafrica.com

... Over the last 20 years, China has become sub-Saharan Africa's largest bilateral trading partner. Around 20% of the region's exports now go to China and about 16% of Africa's imports come from China, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This amounted to a record $282 billion in total trade volume in 2023. Primary commodities -- metals, mineral products and fuel -- represent about three fifths of Africa's exports to China, while it typically imports Chinese manufactured goods, electronics and machinery.

At the same time, China has also emerged as the largest bilateral creditor to Africa, providing African countries with a new source of infrastructure, mining and energy financing. China's share of total sub-Saharan African external public debt was less than 2% before 2005 but grew to about 17%, or $134 billion, by 2021.

Moreover, Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased significantly over the last two decades. In 2003, the annual FDI flow from China to Africa was approximately $75 million. It peaked at $5 billion in 2022, representing about 4.4% of the region's total FDI. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global development strategy launched in 2013, is the framework for China's FDI directed primarily towards transportation, energy and mining infrastructure. ...